Another church that nearly closed down recently until outside investment was found. We live in a…read moreworld of atheists! As a child we used to go here for primary school excursions quite often and I have had to attend numerous baptisms. One for my goddaughter, proud moment. The vicar is a legend in the Mile Oak area and I am sure mostly all people could tell you who he was is they saw a picture, although we only know him as vicar. It is difficult to go to church if you do not believe as it is dull if you don't and you feel like a lemon but they do a few things here which allow you to get involved. I do not really believe but good karma makes think that everyone should do their bit to help others.

Despite being surrounded by modern housing estates, the old village centre of Portslade still…read moreretains a villagey feel: indeed, the approach from the busy A270 Old Shoreham Road is quite a shock: a sea of modern car showrooms gives way to a village green with winding lanes, cottages, a post office and two pubs. At its centre is the parish church of St Nicholas, one of the oldest buildings in Brighton & Hove. Built in the Norman period around 1150, it was substantially enlarged with a new chancel and tower around 1250. Apart from the addition of a remarkably sensitive north aisle by the Victorians, it remains substantially a church in the Early English Gothic style. From the outside, it is entirely conventional: a short west tower, a single roof covering both nave and aisles, covered in Horsham Slate, a smaller tiled chancel, and a south porch. It really could be in any Sussex village. Inside, the oldest part of the church is the south aisle wall and the south nave arcade: of three bays, the two piers are typically Norman: heavy, round, and with square scalloped capitals, with the shallowest of pointed arches. The aisle windows were altered to lancets around 1250, when the chancel and tower were added. Until 1847 there were early mediaeval wall paintings on the south arcade of the Nave, depicting a 'Doom', with the souls of the good and the damned moving to heaven and hell, either side of Christ seated in Judgement. Unfortunately, these were whitewashed shortly afterwards. The chancel is particularly attractive: the two lancets with a sexfoil window above on the east wall are nicely balanced, and it has a fine sedilia (seats in niches for the priest and his assistants) and piscina on the south wall. The tower with rough stone walls also has an attractive high lancet window. The north aisle was added in the latter part of the 19th century but, apart from being wider, it is an almost mirror image of the south aisle, down to the scalloping on the capitals. The east wall repeats the motif from the chancel of two lancet windows, this time below a trefoil window, but the west end is given over to the Brackenbury Chapel, erected in 1874 for Miss Hannah Brackenbury (also spelt Brakenbury) and her brothers and niece. This contains heavily stained glass windows, and is separated by a large mullioned glass screen from the body of the church. The interior is well lit, as few of the windows are coloured. Furnishings are limited, but there are some handsome 18th century memorials on the aisle floor, and a pair of formidable skulls from another memorial (presumably 17th century?) in the south aisle floor. Overall, this is a lovely spot and a heaven of peace and quiet away from the anonymous sprawl of suburban Brighton and Hove. The church is part of a very active parish: detailed of services and other activities can be found on the website. To the north of the church are the scant remains of Portslade Manor House, one of the few examples of a Norman Manor surviving. Unfortunately, much of the fabric was pillaged to build a Victorian folly 'ruin' further north. The remains are nevertheless of national importance and it is a grade II* listed monument. Practicalities The old village sits north of the Old Shoreham Road, well over a mile from the railway station and shopping centre of modern Portslade, and two miles from the sea. It is on the 1/1A bus route, which provides a very frequent service. Alight at the stop for 'St Nicolas'.

This church is suffering largely from falling church goer numbers but still continues to put on…read morecertain events over the year so that locals can benefit. The local primary schools use these facilties once a week for hyms and to pray. It is also a graveyard which does give this church an eerie feeling but I think that is part of it's charm. When I go to a church I like to be thought provoked by what is going on around me, if I don't then for me the church is no good.

The church's website describes All Saints as 'one of the finest churches of the nineteenth century…read moreGothic Revival'. Possessed of an extraordinary interior, it was much admired by the eminent architectural historians Pesvner and Sir John Summerson, and is well worth seeking out. The church was the vision of Thomas Peacey, the first Vicar of Hove when it was made a parish in its own right in 1879. He rebuilt the old church (St Andrew's) and erected another (St Barnabas), before turning his attention to providing a new and spacious Parish church. The architect chosen was John Loughborough Pearson, viewed by many as the greatest architect of the Victorian Gothic revival. Amonst other things, he was responsible for the new cathedrals of Truro and Brisbane, as well as many churches in London. All Saints was to become the largest and costliest of his parish churches. Work began in 1889 and was largely completed by 1901, although the base of the tower was not finished until 1922 (and the remainder of the tower has, unfortunately, never been completed). Pearson chose a French C13th Early Decorated Gothic style for the new church, which is built of Sussex sandstone, and roofed with Sussex oak. The outside is attractive enough, with strong pinnacles around the south transept and chancel, although the tower base looks forlorn with its humble pyramidal cap. But the interior is breathtaking. For a start, the scale and proportions are those of a cathedral: the nave is 40ft wide, and flanked by generous aisles. And the walls are entirely faced with ashlar stone - clear evidence of no expense having been spared. The plan is conventional, with an aisled nave, short transepts, south chapel and chancel. The nave is particularly impressive: five bays of clustered piers rise through large clerestoreys towards transverse roof arches. These provide a repetitive pattern against the dark wooden roof, emphasising the height and leading the eye towards the chancel. Only the south chapel and sanctuary have stone vaults. The windows are equally impressive, and the church carries an almost complete scheme of stained glass by the famous company of Clayton and Bell. The north transept has three twin-light windows with a rose window above, whereas the south transept has a magnificent five-light window. The furnishings are equally impressive and lavish: pride of place goes to a stunning high-Victorian stone reredos, of Pearson's design and carved by Nathanial Hitch. There is elaborate wooden carving everywhere, most notably the screens of the South Chapel, the choir stalls and the amazing organ case, the latter designed by Pearson's son, Frank Pearson. The marble font is a later addition, dating from 1928, and carries a large ornate wooden cover. Although the pews have been removed, the replacement chairs are reasonably sympathetic, and the interior is very well maintained. The church takes advantage of the splendid setting to stage a wonderful Sung Eucharist, every Sunday at 10h. During the summer, they also host classical music concerts every Thursday, May to September (free to enter but donations requested), and lay on tea, coffee and biscuits. The church also has an active programme of children's groups, as well as other outreach and support groups. Details of other services and events can be found on the website.

From the owner: All Saints Hove is an inclusive catholic parish in the Church of England. We believe that there is…read morea place for everyone to receive the unconditional welcome of God, and we are a member of the Inclusive Church network. We seek to give to give a voice to those on the margins in our society and use our facilities to support the homeless and vulnerable and champion the outcast and poor. Whether you are looking for a grand period event space or a casual, cost-effective location to run classes or meetings, we make various spaces available for hire, for the purpose of offering community services and strengthening community spirit and bringing residents together.

St Leonard's is an ancient foundation, now much rebuilt and in a firmly suburban setting, and…read moreeffectively in Portslade. The main offices of the Diocese of Chichester sit alongside. History Originally an Anglo-Saxon settlement, Aldrington is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Eldretune but there is no mention of a church. The predecessor of the present building was erected in the 13th century, but a gradual decline of the settlement hastened by severe storms in 1703 and 1705 meant that by 1800 there were just two people in the parish and the church was largely ruinous (the roof having collapsed in 1738). 18th century drawings show it as a single celled building with lancets and a tower. The arrival of the railway in nearby Portslade in 1840 stimulated a slow process of suburban development, and the church was rebuilt in 1876-8 by Richard Herbert Carpenter (1841-93). He largely followed the pattern of the original building, although the roundel above the two east lancets was replaced by a sexfoil. Further suburban development necessitated another expansion, consisting of a nave and baptistery to the north (1931) with a new chancel (1936), both by Milburn Pett. This effectively relegated the original church to form a large south aisle, with an arcade of square piers between. A planned north aisle was never built, and the 'temporary' brick facings on the north wall contrast with the knapped flints elsewhere. The arcade has, in recent times, been partitioned so the nave and south aisle now form two separate spaces. The church The church sits in a pretty and overgrown churchyard (the noticeboard explains that this is intended to foster a wildlife reserve). The carefully knapped flint walls give away its relatively modern origins, but the shingled broach spire, lancets and pretty carved porch give it a rural air. The interior is something of a surprise after this introduction, as the nave and chancel are wide and bright and contrast sharply with the original church. Pevsner didn't like Pett's work at all, describing it in the Sussex volume of the 'Buildings of England' as very horrible. Furnishings are all modern, with some Clayton and Bell glass in the south aisle (the original church).

The Church Hall at St Phil's on Church Road is a useful amenity that plenty of Hove people don't…read moreknow about. It's available for hire and represents great value for money. I used it recently as the venue for a meeting of local people and thought it good value and very well maintained. You could use the hall for parties or other events too.

St Michael's is a surprise: tucked away amongst the terraces in the fashionable Clifton area of…read moreBrighton, this large church seems almost out of place, its gothic red-brick contrasting with its white-stuccoed neighbours. It is only by looking up that you begin to realise just how big a building this is. That's partly because it is actually two churches in one, both built by renowned Victorian architects. The first was built by G F Bodley in 1861-62, and now forms the south aisle of the church. The interior features painted ceilings, tiled floors and polychromatic brick decoration. But the real joy of this part of the church is its pre-raphaelite stained glass windows, by Burne-Jones, Webb, Maddox-Brown, Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris. A stronger artistic pedigree from the 19th century would be hard to find. In 1893, work began on an extension by William Burges, with sculpture by Thomas Nicholls, which dwarfed the earlier building and became the main body of the church. This is in the French gothic style, on a cathedral-like scale, with an interior in stone rather than brick. The windows here are by Kemp, and there are other furnishings by Burges and Nicholls. But it is the sheer scale that makes this part special. The church is well worth a detour from the bustle of Brighton, in the streets below. As well as for services, the church can accommodate small groups for tours (arranged in advance). The church has recently become accessible for wheel-chair users.

Dubbed the "Cathedral of the Backstreets", St Michael's is a grand Victorian church perched on the…read morehill. Intended to provide moral succour to a godless city of decadence and excess it has been called the finest church in Sussex. It's an architectural gem. The first phase was completed in 1862 to a design by famous architect, George Frederick Bodley. It was subsequently extended in the 1890s. Followers of the arts and crafts movement should pay a call. There are fixtures, windows and other interior features by Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris, Philip Webb and Charles Faulkner. The church is open for visitors on Saturdays and there's usually someone on hand to guide you round. Proper guided tours are also held during the Brighton Festival. By Church of England standards its tradition is high, it draws a big congregation and the choir is very good too. The candlelit midnight mass at Christmas is particularly evocative and well worth attending. But do wrap up, it's cold in there. The church also serves as a cultural and community hub. The church hosts regular musical concerts and recitals as well as a host of lectures and talks through the year. The community hall is used by lots of groups and they also do important work for homeless people. Little known St Michael's fact. They do breakfast on a Saturday morning. It's a hearty breakfast and coffee for a few pounds and it's open to all. Check it out.

The only experience I have had with this church is the youth group 'Engage' so I will discuss that…read morein hope that someone else can discuss the other events. This place is great for young people religious or not. My friend brought me along here twice for the youth evening where people play games and learn a bit about christianity. I had a cracking time and did learn. There is quizzes, table tennis, board games, indoor football and much much more. After 2 visits I was invited to go on holiday with these guys to Bude for free! free accommodation, free surfing, free everything! I could not believe the kindness and generosity all these people showed and I made some great new friends. Anyone between 15-18/19 is allowed to go and it's free so check it out but if you are really against religion then please do not as you might offend.

I'm not a Christian, nor am I religious in any sense, so I perhaps am not overly qualified to rate…read moresuch an institution. A friend of mine does come here regularly, and i did briefly attend once with him. This is a very American church, far more modern then you're typical old English church. If you visit the website, you will equally see the difference between contemporary and tradtional religion. In terms of what they offer, you'll find talks from key religious speakers and live music from religious bands. Definitely an alternative from older religion.

Being an atheist, I only really go to church when I'm invited to a wedding or funeral so when a…read moregood friend of mine got married at St Peter's in Hove, I was bowled over by its charm. The gardens were in tip-top condition and with West Blatchington Windmill just opposite, the view was of biblical proportions! Once inside I found the atmosphere was in no way stuffy, the seats were actually quite comfortable with adequate leg room and the bibles were in great nick. The vicar did a blinder of a service and even cracked a few light-hearted jokes to put the bride and groom at ease. Bless him. So if you're going to pop that big old question to your girlfriend/boyfriend/partner and they want a good old fashioned church wedding, I'd strongly recommend St Pete's.

Brighton's ancient parish church is easily overlooked on a visit to the town. The church sits in a…read morelovely churchyard, with lawns, mature trees and brick pavements, just yards from the busy modern shopping area of Churchill Square, and yet feels as if it would be equally at home in a Sussex village. Superseded as the parish church by St Peter's in the 19th century, it still claims itself as the 'Mother Church' of Brighton, and indeed St Nicholas was the patron Saint of fishermen, doubtless a natural choice for the original little fishing village of Brighthelmstone. Its history dates back to Saxon times: the Domesday book (1085) states that there was a church here in the time of King Edward (the Confessor, presumably), although nothing survives from this foundation. It is clear that it was rebuilt in the Norman period, and there is a small amount of Norman work in the tower. Otherwise, the church is substantially a late 14th century creation, from around 1380: the nave (five bays on octagonal piers), chancel and tower arches date from this time, and the outside of the tower is probably original too. The church was heavily restored around 1853, and a clerestory added in 1892. The church is notable, however, for its furnishings. Pride of place must go to its font: the great architectural historian Pevsner regarded it as the 'best piece of Norman carving in Sussex'. The font is drum shaped, and probably dates from around 1170. The surface is completely carved, with scenes representing the Last Supper; St Nicholas and the ship; the Baptism of Christ; and another presumed story of St Nicholas. The base has a decorative frieze below the scenes, featuring scallops, scrolls and half rosettes. It is a stunning survivor. Other fittings are mostly Victorian. Close to the font is the Duke of Wellington memorial (1853): the young Wellington attended church here, and the huge octagonal sculpture, in the shape of a font cover but inspired by the Eleanor crosses, is elaborately carved in best Decorated Gothic style. There are walls painting on the east and west nave walls by Kempe, as well as some attractive stained glass, also by Kempe. An iron plaque commemorates another regular worshipper, Samuel Johnson, and a medallion celebrates another, the actress Dame Flora Robson. Outside, two headstones are worth a look: the first, commemorates Phoebe Hessel, who dressed as a man and served - and fought - as a foot soldier and died aged 108 in 1821; and the second, to Martha Gunn (d. 1815): 'Peculiarly Distinguished as a bather in this town 70 years'. It clearly did her good, as she lived to be 88.

On Wednesday's there are concerts starting at 1230hrs, put on by various Musicians or Singers, for…read moreabout three quarters of an hour. These are free, but a donation is appreciated. Prior to the concert tea and biscuit are availble for 50 P.

Sussex is well endowed with Saxon churches, and St Botolphs is one of the finest…read more Situated in the hamlet to which it gave its name, the church also serves the adjacent hamlet of Annington. Together, their population is today less than 50, but this large church gives away the fact that in earlier times this was a thriving port on the nearby River Adur. The church dates from 950 AD, and the nave is typical of the Saxon style: narrow, tall and long. Around 1250, a north aisle was erected, and three generous and elegant Early English Gothic arcades were inserted in the north wall. At the same time, the chancel was rebuilt, possibly replacing a Saxon apse, and the west tower added. However, as the river silted up and changed its course, the little town declined, and around 1450 the north aisle was demolished and the north wall closed up, although the three arcade arches are still clearly visible, both inside and out. Thereafter, little has altered: the south wall is the Saxon original, and includes a small Saxon window alongside newer (mostly mediaeval) insertions. The chancel arch includes a Saxon roll on its interior, unusual in that it does not follow the arch to the floor, but rests on two corbels, which have early Saxon decoration, made using a trowel. The chancel has some fine very early Gothic lancet windows, including two 'squints', to allow people outside the church (such as those excommunicated or with a disease) to watch the service within. The one on the north side is probably a 'Leper's Squint'; we know there was a leper's hospital in nearby Bramber in mediaeval times. The one on the south wall has a scratch sun-dial outside, possibly to denote the times of confession. There are also faint wall paintings above the chancel arch, the oldest of which may date from the Saxon period. Three bells dating from 1536 still ring out from the tower, hanging in their original wooden frame. There is a fine Jacobean pulpit, and a royal coat of arms from the time of Charles II. The heavy wooden door bears the date 1630 and the initials of the churchwardens. The church is well worth a visit - why not combine it with a walk along the adjacent Downs Link long distance footpath?